Responsive design -- a site design approach that supposedly delivers an optimal user experience across all device types -- has been hailed in some quarters as a one-size-fits-all solution to the challenge of consumers’ growing use of mobile devices for online access. But, as is usually the case when an approach tries to be all things to all people, responsive design delivers a poor-to-mediocre experience across all platforms.

Replies to This Discussion

If you want to engage the mobile influx, you have three choices, build separate sites for each view-port, build one website and multiple apps, one for each platform, or build one well-designed responsive site.

Responsive design is evolving rapidly, as is its adoption. As more developers contribute, frameworks will evolve and become more powerful and feature-filled.

Responsive design, if poorly executed will flop. But that holds true for an app or a mobile-specific site as well.

Responsive design is there because programmers and our clients want a stream lined and elegant process and a site to match, without making your site work on all viewing platforms you mind as well kiss your income good bye.

A website that adapts to the users device will become favorable to the savvy consumer that understands that the company has done this with them in mind, and with the trends increasing leaning towards green and speed the internet will always be king.

I think responsive design is here to stay. The only issues I see in that area lie in cross-browser compatibility. Yes, there still some people who use Firefox and IE so creating a site design that plays nice with those browsers (especially old versions!) is key. For those people who are "up with the times" responsive designs are usually good for most users.

On behalf of responsive design, "poor-to-mediocre" is a discrediting descriptor. Nothing of value is easily obtained or perfected. Responsive web design is just now creeping out of infancy and into its' toddler era. A distinction I'm confident in making, as I hear more about responsive design from clients than I do colleagues, which has previously been indicative of elements that have evolved past trending buzz words and into the vision brands have for online presence.

Responsive design won't be hindering the personalized focus or brand mission of websites. Quite the opposite. Responsive design is opening new doors to how we're able to analyze traffic flow and engagement. Our responsive design allowed us to start monitoring the time visitors spent hovering on logo's, how often the filter was being overlooked and other specifics that gave us the information necessary to improve our interface. These functionalities and behavior analytics will only prove to advance the online presence of brands and how websites will increasingly serve as optimized lead nurturing tools.

Yes, we will experience some significant growing pains trying to manipulate a website to display on a phone without alternate coding, a rational expectation. But if our intention as an industry is to continue finding ways to cultivate customer personalization at every step of the way, it's safe to say that the toddler boat-car of responsive design is here to stay.

Responsive design will become industry standard. With the adaptation and introduction of new mobile devices; will force websites and web based platforms to be flexible. For example, I foresee a future where there's interconectivity built into all products. A seamless transition from being your car, at work and at home - these websites will be forced to be responsive to all of these platforms.

Responsive Design has been in the list of trends for the past few years and is becoming more and more popular with each passing day. Everyone at this juncture needs their websites to be viewable across all devices irrespective of the platform. The 'poor-to-mediocre' experience will soon change as responsive design evolves with time. It is now at a very nascent stage and definitely has a very bright future ahead due to its flexibility. Many web design companies have adopted responsive design as the industry standards. These companies who are going with the flow are sure to gain more profit as compared to the ones who are trying to go upstream.